Haruki Murakamiis an international phenomenon. WhenBooks One & Twoof his latest masterpiece,1Q84, were published in Japan, a million copies were sold in one month, & the critical acclaim that ensued was reported all over the globe. Readers were transfixed by the mesmerising story of Aomame & Tengo & the strange parallel universe they inhabit. Then, one year later, to the surprise & delight of his readers, Murakami published an unexpectedBook Three, bringing the story to a close. In order to reflect the experience of1Q84's first readers,Harvill Seckeris publishing BooksOne&Twoin one beautifully designed volume &Book Threein a separate edition. A long-awaited treat for his fans,1Q84is also a thrilling introduction to the unique world of Murakami's imagination. This hypnotically addictive novel is a work of startling originality and, as the title suggests, a mind-bending ode toGeorgeOrwell'sNineteen Eighty-Four. (The number 9 in Japanese is pronounced like the letter 'Q').The year is1984. Aomame sits in a taxi on the expressway in Tokyo. Her work is not the kind which can be discussed in public but she is in a hurry to carry out an assignment and, with the traffic at a stand-still, the driver proposes a solution. She agrees, but as a result of her actions starts to feel increasingly detached from the real world. She has been on a top-secret mission, & her next job will lead her to encounter the apparently superhuman founder of a religious cult.Meanwhile, Tengo is leading a nondescript life but wishes to become a writer. He inadvertently becomes involved in a strange affair surrounding a literary prize to which a mysterious 17-year-old girl has submitted her remarkable first novel. It seems to be based on her own experiences and moves readers in unusual ways. Can her story really be true? Both Aomame & Tengo notice that the world has grown strange; both realise that they are indispensable to each other. While their